Shelter table



F.E.POsEY SHELTER TABLE Filed May 25,'1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 muv N,,QGGQAUOOG| .EN G w.

Q .ZPasgyNj/Z May 9, 1944. F, E POSE-Y 2,348,416

SHELTER TABLE Filed May 25, 1942 4 sheets-sheet 2 tg Z'Efasecg IN V ENTOR.

l BY May 9,4 1944. Fg E posgy 2,348,416

SHELTER 'TABLE Filed May 25, 1942 4 sheets-sheet s F. E. POSEY SHELTERTABLE May 9, 1944,

Filed May 25,v 1942 l 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 57.10408 ey. `INVENroR.

mw k MJ Patented May .9, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT UFFICE SHELTER TABLEFrank Eugene Posey, Hamtramck, Mien.

Application May 25, 1942, Serial No. 444,447

s Claims. (Cl. 31a-163) This invention relates to a table which, whilecapable of being used for the various purposes common with devices ofthis kind, is especially designed to be employed as a shelter in theevent of air raids or the collapse of a building from any cause.

An object of the invention is to provide an extremely durable structureof this character proportioned to receive one or more personsthereunder, means being employed whereby an occupant of the spacebeneath the table can quickly enclose the table with a shield serving asa protection against flying fragments or debris.

A further object is to provide the under-portion of the table with anenclosure readily shf'table into or out of shielding position and whichmovable part has separately movable doors which can be operated frominside or outside the space beneath the table and which, when open, willpermit a person to pass through the door opening thus provided.

With theforegoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred forms of the invention havebeen shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through thetable structure with its housing members in closed positions.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2 2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3 3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4 4, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged section on line 5 5, Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical section through one corner portion ofthe table top.

Figure 'lis a vertical transverse section through a portion of amodified `form of table of reduced capacity.

Figure 8 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing theconnection between the two sections and one of the legs of the table.

Figure 9 shows the lower portion of a table leg in section and equippedwith a wear foot.

Figure 10 shows the lower portion of a leg in section and equipped witha caster.

Figure 11 shows the lower portion of a table legequipped with asupporting pin, said pin being shown in raised or inactive position.

Y Figure 12 is a. view similar to Fig. 11 showing the pin secured inlowered or supporting position.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, I- designates thefour corner legs of the table which are preferably square incross-section and connected at their upper ends by side strips 2 setinto and secured to the sides of the legs as shown at 3. End strips 4are mounted on the legs and constitute portions of the table top, therebeing dowels 5 extending through these end strips and projecting intothe upper ends of the legs as shown so as to provide secure detachableconnections between the legs and the top.

The end strips 4 are fastened to the ends of a bottom panel 6 formedpreferably of ply-wood and on which is secured a panel 1 formed of heavyplanks or the like. This panel, in turn, supports a slab 8 of reenforcedconcrete and overlying this slab is a top layer 9 preferably of ply-woodwhich can be reenforced along the sides and center by means of stripslli anchored to the concrete in any suitable manner, as by means ofnails II the heads of which are embedded in the concrete. The severalthicknesses of the table top are joined at the sides by side strips I2constituting aprons which project downwardly below the panel 6 and havetheir lower edges preferably ilush with the lower edges of thecrossstrips 4. Aprons I3 corresponding with the aprons I2 also connectthe several thicknesses of the table top at the ends thereof and thesehave their lower edges in the same plane with the lower edges of theaprons I2. The dowels 5 heretofore referred to have their upper ends orheads I4 seated in the section 1 of the table top so that they are thussecurely held against separation from the table top. Obviously the tabletop can be lifted readily fromthe legs at which time the pins or dowels5 will withdraw from the legs l. Normally, howevef," the table top isheld securely on the legs and the structure maintained rigid because ofthe rigidity of the stout dowels or pins 5 and the connections betweenthe legs hereinafter described.'

A transverse strip I5 is located preferably at the center of the tabletop and fastened along the panel 6, this strip being provided with acentral depending dowel I6 removably seated in the upper end of a centerleg I1.

As shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 8, each of the comer legs I can beprovided with a reduced lower end I8 constituting a tongue. This tongueis fitted snugly in a sleeve I9 which, in turn, ex

tends around a tongue extending upwardly from a leg extension 2 I. Thuseach of the corner legs can be made of two connected sections the lowerone of which, however, can be removed, with its connection I9, when thecapacity oi' the shelter is to be reduced. The center leg I1 has acoupling sleeve 22 threaded thereon and this sleeve is adapted to bedetachably and adjustably engaged by the screw-threaded upper end 23 ofan extension 24.

With this construction the sleeve 22 can be adjusted upwardly on leg I1to allow the extension 24 to be removed therefrom and when this sectionand the extensions 2| are all removed. the corner legs can all engage aoor or other supporting surface, when the capacity of the shelter isreduced. At this time a short leg section 24' can be removably joined bysleeve 22 to the leg I1.

If desired the extensions 2I can be provided at their lower ends withwear shoes as shown at 25 in Fig. 9 or with casters as shown at 26 inFig. 10.

Brackets 21 are secured to the legs I and serve to detachably support astructure comprising end strips 28 and a panel 29, the panel havingangle strips 30 at its sides. A central opening 3| is formed in thepanel and through this opening is extended the leg I1. An intermediatecrossstrip 32 is secured to the bottom of partition 29 and has anopening 33 through which the leg is extended. Brackets 34 are secured toleg I1 and extend under strip 32 so as to support it.

The partition 29 is supported at a distance above the floor levelsubstantially equal to the distance between said partition and the tabletop and the areas thus defined are intended to be such as to accommodatetwo persons side by side on the partition and two persons side by sideon the floor and below the partition. Thus the space under the table topwill accommodate four persons. Under some conditions, however, all ofthis space would not be necessary and in that event the extensions ofthe several legs would be removed and the partition would be removed sothat the legs I and I1 withput their extensions would rest on the oor asshown in Fig. 7. Thus the shelter would accommodate only two personsside by side.

There is used in connection with this table an enclosure consisting oftwo opposed shields. These shields are of a height substantially equalto the distance between the floor level and the bottom edges of theaprons I2. Each shield comprises side panels 35 mounted on casters 36 orother suitable anti-friction devices. The side panels are connected atone end by a frame made up of channeled side members 31, and a channeledbottom member 38. This open channeled frame made up of the parts 31 and38 is adapted to receive a removable frame 3 9 which, as shownparticularly in Fig. 5, has parallel inner and outer side channels 40,transverse connecting strips 4I at the bottom of the removable frame,transverse connecting strips 42 at the top of the frame, andintermediate transverse connecting strips 43 and 44 substantially at thelevel of the partition 29, one of these strips, 43, being preferablyangular so as to constitute a support as hereinafter explained.

The removable frame 39 is provided at its center with a guide strip 45having inner and outer guide channels therein as shown in Fig. 4 andslidably mounted between this strip 45 and the channeled sides 40 arepairs of sliding doors 4G and 41 respectively. The lower doors 4S areslidable in the outer channels while the upper doors 41 are slidable inthe inner channels and are normally supported by the angle strips 43.When these doors are in their closed positions they serve to completelyclose the space between the panels 35 of the enclosure or shield. Eachdoor 41 is adapted to slide upwardly oiI of strip 43 and within theinner channels into open position, thereby serving to expose anopeningsuiliciently large to allow one person to pass therethrough. Eachof the doors has an opening 48 therein into which a hand can be insertedfor the purpose of raising the door to permit a hand to be insertedthereunder for forcing the door to full open position. When the doorsare in closed position fastening pins 49 can be inserted through theadjacent portions of the channeled frame 39 and the channels 31 asclearly shown in Fig. 5. It will be noted that the pins can be pulledoutwardly by a person outside of the shelter or they can be thrustoutwardly by a person inside of the shelter.

Two of these enclosures or shields are provided and both of them are soproportioned as to straddle one end of the table and to meet when theyare pulled toward each other. To one of the shields is connected a rope50 or the like having a ring 5I while to the other shield is connected ahook 52. These parts are so proportioned that when the two shields arepulled toward each other and come together at their inner ends, the ring5| can be placed in engagement with hook 52 so that the shields cannotthereafter be pulled apart.

Ventilating openings 53 can be located Wherever desired within the sidepanels 35 of the shield.

The sections of the shield are of course proportioned to t the tablewith which they are to be used. These sections can be normallypositioned about the ends of the table or, if preferred, can be storedat remote points from which they can be readily drawn when it is desiredto use them. Under normal conditions the table is used for any desiredpurposes. In the event of an air raid or other circumstance requiringprotection for persons within a building where the table is located, thepersons to be so protected assume positions beneath the table afterplacing the two shields astride the opposed ends of the table. One ormore of the persons within the space beneath the table top can then pullone section of the shield as far as it will go along the lower edges ofthe aprons I2 after which, by means of the rope or ropes 50 provided,the other section is drawn toward the rst section until ring 5I can beplaced in engagement with hook 52. During this movement of the twosections, they are properly guided by strips 54 attached to anddepending from the aprons I2, these strips and the strips 2 thuscooperating to form guide channels for the upper edges of the panels 35.

When the enclosures are secured as explained, the entire table affordsexcellent protection for the occupants of the space beneath the top. Oneor more of the occupants oi' this space can leave by raising one or bothof the door`s 46 at the head or at the foot of the space so occupied.When it is desired to restore the parts to their normal positions, thering 5I is disengaged from hook 52 and the two end sections of theshields or enclosures are then pushed outwardly away from the tablestructure.

The legs l can be equipped with extension rods 55 slidable In guides 53having set screws 51.

sions from the different legs for the purpose of lowering the table top,the extension 24 could be l removed by unscrewing the coupling 22therefrom and the long extension 24 placed under leg l1.

When the table is lowered,` as in Fig. 7, the partition 29 and itsreenforcing strips 28, 30 and 32 are slid upwardly -along leg I1 untilclose to Y the table top where they are fastened by inserting pins 58thereunder as shown in Fig. 7.

It is to be understood of course that the materials of which the tableis to be made can be varied to suit the requirements but the use of atop made up of laminations of ply-wood, planks and concrete have beenfound to be most effective.

What is claimed is:

1. A shelter table including legs for engaging a supporting` surface, atop supported thereby, and shield members removably straddling endportions of the table and slidable on said surface into position tostraddle the legs.

2. A shelter table including legs for engaging a supporting surface, atop supported thereby, shield members removably straddling end portionsof the table, and rollers connected to the shield members for supportingsaid members on said surface, said members being proportioned to contactwith each other and completely surround the legs of the table.

3. A shelter table including legs for engaging a supporting surface, atop supported thereby, opposed shield members removably staddlingopposed end portions of the table, and movable on said surface, saidmembers being proportioned to contact with each other and completely'surround the legs of the table, and means under the top and connectingthe opposed members for holding them against separation.

4. A shelter table comprising legs for engaging ,a supporting surface,connections therebetween,

2,848,416 l Thus should it be desired to remove the extena top supportedthereon, opposed shield members movable on said surface and straddlingand mov,

able relative to the legs, said members being proportioned to contactwith each other and com-- pletely surround the legs ofthe table, anddoors constituting closures `for and carried by the respective members.

5. A shelter table comprising legs for engaging a supporting surface,connections therebetween, a top supported thereon, opposed shieldmembers movable on said surface and straddling and movable relative tothe legs, said members being proportioned to contact and completelysurround the legs of the table, a frame removably mounted in andconstituting a part of each of the members, and doors slidably mountedin the frame,

6. A shelter tableincluding legs for engaging a'supporting surface,connections therebetween, a top mounted thereon, opposed shields movableon said surface and straddling and movable relative to the table, saidshields being proportioned to contact and completely surround the legsof the table, channel members carried by each shield, a frame removablymounted in the channel members of each shield, and doors carried by theframe.

-7. A shelter table including legs for engaging a supporting surface,connections therebetween,

. a partition removably supported by thelegs therebetween to provideupper and lower spaces within the table, a top removably mounted on thelegs, opposed shields movable on said surface and straddling and movablymounted relative to the table, said shields being proportioned tocontact with each other and completely surround the legs of the table,and upper and lower doors movable in each shield and constitutingclosures for the areas above and belowthe partition respectively.'

FRANK EUGENE PosEY.

